Communication terminal

ABSTRACT

The control circuit  11  causes display of messages received through the communication unit  1  in the display unit  14  in list form. A cursor for making selections from the messages displayed in list form has different patterns. The control circuit  11  associates the cursor patterns with message types. In another embodiment, the control circuit  11  groups received messages into new messages not yet reproduced by a user and old messages already reproduced, causes display of the number of the new messages in a predetermined area of the display unit when the new messages are stored in RAM  13 , and display of the number of the old messages in said predetermined area when the new messages are not stored in RAM  13.

This is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/642,911,filed Aug. 21, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a communication terminal, especially acommunication terminal whose display unit having a limited display areais effectively used to improve its handiness.

2. Background Art

The communication terminal of the present invention is typically amobile communication terminal, especially a pager (pocket bell), a PHS(personal handy phone system) phone, a cellular phone and the like.Personal computers endowed with communication capability are alsoincluded therein.

Functions which communication terminals are provided with are increasingin number to meet various user demands. On the other hand,miniaturization of some communication terminals moves forward, andtherefore, the display areas of their display units are becomingsmaller. Consequently, the need of realizing more functions using asmaller display area is becoming stronger.

One of the functions which a communication terminal is provided with isstorage and reproduction of messages. It enables sending a message froma transmitting terminal to a receiving terminal via a switching station,and reproducing the message at the receiving terminal. The message maybe a message of character codes or a voice message. In the case of atext message, the switching station transmits the message to thereceiving terminal, and the message is stored in a memory unit withinthe receiving terminal until it is reproduced or displayed by anaddressee. In the case of a voice message, the voice data itself isstored in a voice mail center within the switching station, andinformation indicating existence of the voice message is transmittedfrom the station to the receiving terminal. The voice data istransmitted in response to an addressee's requirement, and reproduced(vocalized) at the receiving terminal. There is a communication systemwhich can transmit identifying information together with a message, theinformation indicating whether the message is a preferential (urgent)one or not. The communication system based on U.S. StandardTIA/EIA/IS637 is one example thereof.

There is also a communication terminal which holds a message even afterthe message is reproduced until it is deleted by a specific deletingoperation. In such a communication terminal provided with a messagedisplaying facility, it is desirable to provide indications todistinguish a preferential message from ordinary messages at the time ofdisplaying them in list form. However, it is impracticable when thedisplay area is small. Further, although it is convenient to indicatenot only the number of text messages not yet reproduced but also thenumber of text messages already reproduced, it is also impracticablewhen the display area is small.

Further, the full text of a message cannot be displayed if it is long,and it has to be scrolled, which causes inconvenience in reading themessage. This problem can be serious when displaying E-mail of a longtext from a personal computer and the like in the display unit of acommunication terminal, such as a cellular phone.

Further, there is a communication terminal which, when there arisesreception error or memory overflow while it is used for voicecommunication, indicates information immediately on its current screento notify a user of that status if it is urgent and, if it is noturgent, indicates the information at the time of returning to theinitial screen. In such a communication terminal, if the power is turnedoff before returning to the initial screen, the information is notindicated and, accordingly, the user cannot receive the informationuntil the power is turned on next.

There is also a communication terminal in which, for setting the volumeof a sound, such as a received sound, transmitting sound, key clicksound and the like, a setting of illuminating time of the backlight, asetting of notifying procedure of an incoming call, and for lookup in aphone directory and so on, an operation which includes selecting one ofoptions in each selection screen (a menu screen) to open the next menuscreen, is repeated in order to make desired settings by selectingnecessary functions. Since the number of options that can be displayedin the display area is limited, there is known a system that enablesmaking a selection from options other than those currently displayed inthe display area by operating a ten-key pad. In such a case allowingselection of options other than those currently displayed in the displayarea, when a return to the previous screen has been made the optionselected is not displayed, which causes inconvenience.

Furthermore, in a communication terminal of a cellular phone type inwhich one of an external speaker and an external microphone, and aninternal speaker and an internal microphone can be selected, it ispreferable to indicate the status of the selection. However, it may beimpossible if the display area is small.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made to solve the aforesaid problems, andan object thereof is to provide a communication terminal having anexcellent handiness irrespective of its small display area.

The communication terminal of the first embodiment of the presentinvention comprises:

-   a communication unit (1, 3) for receiving messages and type    information of said messages from a station;-   a display unit (14); and-   control means (11) which displays said messages received by said    communication unit in list form in said display unit, a cursor which    makes a selection from said messages displayed in list form having    different patterns, said control means associating said patterns of    said cursor with message types.

According to the above structure, even if a display screen is small, itis possible to display a cursor and message types at the same time,since the cursor displayed in a list also indicates message types.

The communication terminal of the second embodiment of the presentinvention comprises:

-   memory means (13) for storing messages received from a station;-   a display unit (14); and-   control means (11) which groups received messages into new messages    not yet reproduced by a user and old messages already reproduced,    causes display of the number of said new messages in a predetermined    area of said display unit when said new messages are stored in said    memory means, and causes display of the number of said old messages    in said predetermined area when said new messages are not stored in    said memory means.

According to the above structure, it is possible to display the numberof various types of messages in a small area, since one of the number ofold text messages and the number of new text messages is displayeddepending on the existence of the new text messages.

The communication terminal of the third embodiment of the presentinvention comprises:

-   a reception circuit (3) for receiving text information including    spaces;-   a display unit (14);-   a memory unit (13); and-   control means (11) which stores received text information in said    memory unit combining successive spaces into one space, if said    received text information has said successive spaces, and causes    display of said stored text information in said display unit.

The communication terminal of the fourth embodiment of the presentinvention comprises:

-   a reception circuit (3) for receiving text information including    line feeds;-   a display unit (14);-   a memory unit (13); and-   control means (11) which stores received text information in said    memory unit combining successive line feeds into one line feed, if    said received text information has said successive line feeds, and    causes display of said stored text information in said display unit.

The communication terminal of the fifth embodiment of the presentinvention comprises:

-   a reception circuit (3) for receiving text information including    spaces and line feeds;-   a display unit (14);-   a memory unit (13); and-   control means (11) which stores said received text information    combining a series of a space and a line feed into one line feed if    said received text information has said series of a space and a line    feed, and causes display of said stored text information in said    display unit.

The communication terminal of the sixth embodiment of the presentinvention comprises:

-   a reception circuit (3) for receiving text information including    control information such as a line feed;-   a display unit (14);-   a memory unit (13); and-   control means (11) which stores received text information in said    memory unit converting received control information except a line    feed into a space, and displays said stored text information in said    display unit.

According to the above structure, it is possible to reduce memory spacewhen receiving successive line feeds or spaces, and effectively use thesmall display area. Further, when the communication terminal receivesany control information which the communication terminal does notsupport, it is possible to make a notification of the existence thereof.

The communication terminal of the seventh embodiment of the presentinvention comprises:

-   memory means (13) for storing information to be notified;-   a display unit (14) for displaying a predetermined screen or said    information to be notified;-   an input unit (16) where operation is performed; and-   control means (11) which causes display of said information to be    notified when operation is performed to turn off power supply in    said input unit during display of said predetermined screen.

The communication terminal of the eighth embodiment of the inventioncomprises:

-   memory means (13) for storing information to be notified;-   a display unit (14) for displaying an initial screen, a lower screen    as a lower layer of said initial screen, and said information to be    notified;-   an input unit (16) where operation is performed; and-   control means (11) which allows display of said information to be    notified in said initial screen and prohibits display of said    information to be notified in said lower screen, and displays said    information to be notified when operation is performed to turn off    power supply in said input unit during display of said lower screen.    Said initial screen may be the one during standby or the one during    communication.

According to the above structure, it is possible to prevent a user frombeing unaware of information to be notified and not yet acknowledged byturning off the power supply when it is hiding.

The communication terminal of the ninth embodiment of the presentinvention comprises:

-   a display unit (14) which displays a selection screen for selecting    at least one of a plurality of options; and-   display control means (11) which causes display of options in said    display unit by division or scroll to enable selecting an option not    currently displayed in said display unit from the options to be    selected, causes, when an option not currently displayed has been    selected, a display of a screen associated with said selected option    in said display unit, and performs a display so as to include said    selected option when displaying said selection screen next.

According to the above structure, it is possible for the user torecognize easily which option has been selected, because the selectionscreen is made to include the selected option when the selected optionwas not displayed in the previous screen at the time of returning to theprevious selection screen from the screen associated with the selectedoption.

The communication terminal of the tenth embodiment of the presentinvention comprises:

-   a display unit (14) which displays a selection screen for selecting    at least one of a plurality of options; and-   display control means (11) which causes display of options in said    display unit by division or scroll to enable selecting an option not    currently displayed in said display unit from the options to be    selected, causes, when an option not currently being displayed has    been selected, display of a screen associated with said selected    option in said display unit, and causes display of information    indicating said selected option when displaying said selection    screen next.

According to the above structure, it is possible for the user torecognize easily which menu has been selected, because information onthe option which has been selected is displayed at the time of returningto the previous selection screen from the screen associated with theselected option.

The communication terminal of the eleventh embodiment of the presentinvention comprises:

-   a rechargeable battery (30) which can be recharged by an external    power supply;-   recharge detection means (11, S131) for detecting whether said    rechargeable battery (30) is under recharge by said external power    supply (32);-   placement detection means (26) for detecting whether an apparatus is    placed in a placing unit;-   a display unit (14) which indicates exhaustion level of said    rechargeable battery;-   an external speaker connecting unit (20 a); and-   control means (11, S134, S138) which recognizes that an external    speaker mode has been established and outputs received voices to    said external speaker connecting unit (20 a), prohibiting said    exhaustion level of said rechargeable battery from being indicated    when said recharge detection means detects that said rechargeable    battery (30) is under recharge, and said placement detection means    (29) detects that said apparatus is placed in said placing unit, and    outputs no received voice to said external speaker connecting unit    (20 a), allowing exhaustion level of said rechargeable battery to be    indicated except in said external speaker mode.

According to the above structure, when a communication terminal such asa cellular phone is carried in a vehicle and is being recharged, thatstate is indicated utilizing the battery indication area. Accordingly,the small display area can be used effectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing principal elements of the firstembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the principal operation of the firstembodiment.

FIG. 3 is a view showing the contents of received messages.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are views showing change in a display of a list withcursor movement.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are views showing change in a display of a list withchange of message types.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing principal elements of the secondembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing essential operation of the secondembodiment.

FIG. 8 is a view showing memory contents in case there are new textmessages.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a display indicating the number of messageswhen there are new text messages.

FIG. 10 is a view showing memory contents in case there is no new textmessage.

FIG. 11 is a view showing a display indicating the number of messageswhen there is no new text message.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing principal elements of the thirdembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a front view of the third embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing principal operation of the thirdembodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing the details of an updating process ofFIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing the details of a compression process ofFIG. 14.

FIG. 17 is a view showing an example of the compression process.

FIG. 18 is a flow chart showing a displaying process of the thirdembodiment.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing principal elements of the fourthembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a front view of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a flow chart showing principal operation of the fourthembodiment.

FIG. 22 is a view showing changes of a screen of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing principal elements of the fifthembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a flow chart showing principal operation of the fifthembodiment.

FIG. 25 is a view showing selection screens and screens of selected aselected menu of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a view showing displays of screens of the fifth embodiment inthe case where a menu which has been selected was displayed in theprevious selection screen.

FIG. 27 is a view showing displays of screens of the fifth embodiment inthe case where a menu which has been selected was not displayed in theprevious selection screen.

FIG. 28 is a view showing an example of prior art corresponding to FIG.27.

FIG. 29 is a view showing selection screens and screens of a selectedmenu of the sixth embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 30 is a view showing displays of screens of the sixth embodiment inthe case where a menu which has been selected was displayed in theprevious selection screen.

FIG. 31 is a view showing displays of screens of the sixth embodiment inthe case where a menu which has been selected was not displayed in theprevious selection screen.

FIG. 32 is a view showing displays of screens of the seventh embodimentin the case where a menu which has been selected was displayed in theprevious selection screen.

FIG. 33 is a view showing displays of screens of the seventh embodimentin the case where a menu which has been selected was not displayed inthe previous selection screen.

FIG. 34 is a view showing displays of screens of the eighth embodimentin the case where a menu which has been selected was not displayed inthe previous selection screen.

FIG. 35 is a view showing displays of screens of the ninth embodiment inthe case where a menu which has been selected was not displayed in theprevious selection screen.

FIG. 36 is a block diagram showing principal elements of the tenthembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 37 is a view showing a communication terminal of the tenthembodiment carried in a vehicle.

FIG. 38 is a flow chart showing principal operation of the tenthembodiment.

FIG. 39 is a view showing a display of a battery indicating area not inthe car kit mode.

FIG. 40 is a view showing indication levels of exhaustion of arechargeable battery.

FIG. 41 is a view showing a display of a battery indication area in thecar kit mode.

FIG. 42 is a view showing another example of the display of FIG. 41.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments of this invention will be explained based on thedrawings in the following.

The First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing principal elements of the embodiment.The communication terminal of this embodiment is a cellular phone of theCDMA system which uses two or more carriers of the same frequency in thesame cell.

A communication unit 1 transmits signals from a baseband unit 3 to abase station (not shown) through an antenna 2, and receives radio wavesfrom the base station through the antenna 2.

The baseband unit 3 has a CDMA processing circuit 3 a and a voice codec3 b. The CDMA processing circuit 3 a performs a code division multipleaccess, scramble, error control, and timing detection. The voice codec 3b compresses (coding) and expands (decoding) voices, performsanalog-digital conversion, and changes the volume of received voices andthe sensitivity of a microphone by its internal amplification circuit(not shown).

A speaker 4 which is used for voice communication being held to one'sears converts the electric signals from the baseband unit 3 amplified inthe amplification circuit 5 into voices. A microphone 6 which is usedfor voice communication converts voices into electric signals. Anamplification circuit 7 amplifies the output of the microphone 6, andoutputs it to the baseband unit 3.

A speaker 8 is used for making a voice communication heard by a personnearby, and disposed at the back of the receiving unit (the planeopposite the plane in which the ear-speaker 4 is placed). This speaker 8converts the electric signals of the baseband unit 3 amplified in theamplification circuit 9 into voices. The speaker 8 also sounds to give anotice of an incoming call.

A switching circuit 10 switches the connection between each threeamplification circuits 5, 7, and 9 and the baseband unit 3 under controlof the control circuit 11.

These three amplification circuits 5, 7, and 9 have their gains fixed,and cannot change the volume of received voices and the sensitivity ofthe microphone. The voice codec 3 b of the baseband unit 3 performschanges of the volume of received voices and the sensitivity of themicrophone under control of the control circuit 11.

The control unit 11 comprises a microprocessor and controls each unitbased on operating programs stored in ROM12. RAM13 stores informationrequired for operation of the control circuit 11.

The liquid crystal display unit 14 displays a telephone number dialed, acaller's number, a telephone directory, etc.

A vibrator 15 generates vibration under control of the control circuit11 at the time of receiving a call.

An input unit has a ten-key pad 161 for making an input of a telephonenumber etc., start key 162 for starting a communication, end key 163 forterminating a communication, a list key 164 for displaying messages in alist, Δ key 165 for moving a cursor in the list upwards (returning thecursor back), ∇ key 165 for moving the cursor in the list downwards(advancing the cursor forward), and an >/

key for switching ordinary/preferential of a message.

Here, a message is text information which a caller transmits, and thecaller can specify ordinary/preferential of a message. The communicationterminal of this embodiment is a cellular phone, and the size of itsdisplay unit 14 is as small as 15-half size character (15 columns) by6-line size.

The operation of the display in list form of the first embodiment willnow be explained. FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing operation of thecontrol circuit 11, FIG. 3 shows messages which are received and storedin RAM13, and FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B show lists of themessages displayed in their display units.

As shown in FIG. 3, it is assumed that there are six messages which werereceived. In the order of reception time, the date and time, distinctionbetween ordinary and preferential, and the message itself are stored.“n” in A(n), B(n), and C$(n) is a variable which represents the messagenumber in a list. Further, the position of a cursor is stored in abuffer of the control circuit 11. A(n) is a variable which representsthe date and time. B(n) is a variable which distinguishesordinary/preferential, where B(n)=0 refers to a ordinary message, andB(n)=1 refers to a preferential message. C$(n) is a variablerepresenting a character of a message. MAX is a variable representingthe total number of stored messages.

In FIG. 2, the control circuit 11 locates the cursor in the firstposition, that is, sets the variable n to 1 and sets MAX to “6” as aninitial value (S1). This value “6” of MAX expresses the total number ofmessages. Next, when the list key 164 is pressed (Y in S2), the controlcircuit 11 displays, from the second column (the second half sizecharacter) to the fifteenth column (the fifteenth half size character),14 half size characters for each of six messages (S3).

The symbol representing the cursor also represents message types in thisembodiment. That is, a symbol “

” or “>” is displayed on the position of the cursor, which express themessage type simultaneously. To be more specific, a symbol “

” will be displayed if the message is a preferential message (Y in S4,S5), and a symbol “>” will be displayed if the message is an ordinarymessage (N in S4, S6) at the first column of a line where the cursor islocated.

Then, a watch is kept on any operation of Δ key 165, ∇ key 166, >/

key 167, or other keys (S7–S10). The cursor is moved upward (S11, S12)when Δ key 165 is pressed (Y in S7), and moved downward (S13, S14) when∇ key 166 is pressed (Y in S8). The cursor symbol is displayed to makeprovision for distinguishing ordinary/preferential with respect to amessage where the cursor is repositioned (S4 to S6).

Further, each time >/

key 167 is pressed, (N in S9), the data of ordinary/preferential in RAM(13) is changed (S15–S17), and the character of the cursor is alsochanged (S4–S6). For example, when ∇ key 166 is pressed in a state wherethe cursor is in the first line as shown in FIG. 4A, the cursor is movedto the next lower line as shown in FIG. 4B. At the same time, the symbolchanges to “

” from “>”. It is because the message at the first line is an “ordinaryone”, and the data at the second line is a “preferential one”.

In contrast to the above, when Δ key 165 is pressed in the initial statewhere the cursor is in the second line as shown in FIG. 4B, the cursoris moved to the next upper line as shown in FIG. 4A. At the same time,the symbol changes to “>” from “

.”

Further, when >/

key 167 is pressed in a state where the symbol of the cursor is “

” as shown in FIG. 5A (the cursor is displayed in the fifth line in FIG.5A), the symbol of the cursor changes to “>” as shown in FIG. 5B.Further, when >/

key 167 is pressed in a state where the symbol of the cursor is “>” asshown in FIG. 5B, the symbol of the cursor changes to “

” as shown in FIG. 5A. As described above, distinction betweenordinary/preferential can be made at the receiving end.

In the above-mentioned instance, the reference has been made to the casewhere there are six received messages. If there are seven or moremessages, six of them will be displayed. When ∇ key 166 is pressed in astate where the cursor is in the bottommost line, the next messageappears, and the messages having been displayed are scrolled upwards byone line respectively. The message having been displayed in the topmostline disappears. When the above “the next message” does not exist, thecontents of the display remain unchanged. When Δ key 165 is pressed in astate where the cursor is in the topmost line, the immediately precedingmessage appears, and the messages having been displayed are scrolleddownwards by one line respectively. The message having been displayed inthe bottommost line disappears. When the immediately preceding messagedoes not exist, the contents of the display remains unchanged. In theabove embodiment, although there are two message types of ordinary andpreferential, it is possible to apply the present invention to caseshaving more message types.

Further, in the above embodiment, although display of the cursor is inthe form of a symbol, it is possible to distinguish message types by aspecific form of display other than symbols, for example, by a degree ofmeshing (half-tone dots) to the cursor.

According to the above-described embodiment, the cursor figurationserves also as message type indication, it is possible to indicatemessage types without enlarging the display screen.

The Second Embodiment

The second embodiment of this invention will now be explained withreference to FIGS. 6 to 11. FIG. 6 shows the circuit structure of thesecond embodiment. In these figures, the reference numerals which arethe same as those in FIG. 1 represent the same elements. Explanation ofthe reference numerals 1 to 11 is omitted.

The liquid crystal display unit 14 has the first display area and thesecond display area, and indicates the number of voice messages not yetvocalized in the first display area and indicates one of the number oftext messages whose contents are not yet displayed and the number oftext messages whose contents were already displayed in the seconddisplay area.

The input unit 16 is not provided with the keys 164 to 167 of FIG. 1,but instead has a message key 171 which is operated for displaying thenumber of messages, voice key 172 which is operated for vocalizing voicemessages, text key 173 which is operated for displaying text messages,and exit key 174 which is operated for exiting processes.

Here, a message is information which a caller transmits which may be avoice message or a text message. After a caller performs a messagesending operation, a station transmits the message information, such asa caller's telephone number, to a communication terminal.

In the case of a text message, the text information of the received textmessage is stored in the communication terminal. Therefore, the textmessages are grouped into new text messages whose contents are not yetdisplayed, and old messages whose contents were already displayed. Onthe other hand, the voice data of a voice message is stored in avoicemail center of the station, sent out according to demand from thecommunication terminal, and vocalized at the communication terminal.Voice messages are preserved for a long period of time until they aresent out, and erased within a predetermined short period of time afterthey are sent out. Since communication terminals cannot keep track ofthis erasure period correctly, communication terminals which do notstore received voice messages are configured such that operation forvocalizing received vice messages cannot be repeated. Therefore, voicemessages are not grouped into old ones and new ones.

It is possible to know the number of messages not yet vocalized, that isnew messages, the number of new text messages, and the number of oldmessages from the number of information such as caller's numbers (referto FIG. 8 and FIG. 10) stored in RAM13.

Operation of the display in list form in the second embodiment will nowbe explained. FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the operation of thecontrol circuit 11. When the message key 171 is operated (S21), thecontrol circuit 11 displays on the display unit 14 the number of voicemessages not yet vocalized (S22). Since operation of vocalizing voicemessages cannot be repeated, the number of old voice messages is notdisplayed.

Next, existence of new text messages is checked (S23). When there existnew text messages (Y in S23), the number of the new text messages isindicated (S24). When there exists no new text message (N in S23), thenumber of old text messages is indicated (S25).

For example, as shown in FIG. 8, when data of four voice messages, dataof three old text messages, and data of two new text messages are storedin RAM13, the control circuit 11 indicates that there are four voicemessages and two new text messages, but does not indicate the number ofold text messages as shown in FIG. 9.

Thereafter, when the user opens two new text messages, and therefore,the number of old text messages runs to five and the number of new textmessages runs to zero as shown in FIG. 10, the number of new textmessages (zero) is not indicated, but the number of old text messages(five) is indicated as shown in FIG. 11.

Thus, by indicating one of the number of old text messages and thenumber of new text messages depending on the existence of new textmessage(s), it is possible to decrease the size of the displaying area.

When the number of voice messages and the number of text messages aredisplayed, the control circuit 11 performs processing for receivingvoice messages from the station (Y in S26, S27) through the operation ofthe voice key 172, and displaying text messages stored in RAM 13 (Y inS28, S9) through the operation of the text key 173.

According to the above embodiment, since one of the number of old textmessages and the number of new text messages is indicated depending onthe existence of new text messages, it is possible to indicate thenumbers of various types of message in the small display area.

The Third Embodiment

The third embodiment of this invention will now be explained withreference to FIGS. 12 to 18.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing principal elements of the embodiment,and FIG. 13 is a front view of this communication terminal. In thesefigures, the reference numerals which are the same as those in FIG. 1represent the same elements. Explanation of the reference numerals 1 to11 and 15 is omitted.

The communication unit 1 transmits signals of voice communication ortext messages to a base station through an antenna 2, or receives radiowaves of voice communication or text messages through the antenna 2.

A speaker 8 outputs a sound for making a notification of an incomingcall of voice communication or messages.

A speaker 8 is used also for making voice communication heard by aperson nearby as in the first embodiment, and is disposed at the back ofthe receiving unit J in which the ear-speaker 4 is placed.

The liquid crystal display unit 14 indicates the status ofcommunication, remaining capacity of a battery, etc., in the first line,indicates the contents of a text message in the second to fourth lines,and indicates functions of F1 key 177 and F2 key 178 which will bedescribed below in a message displaying screen, as shown in FIG. 13. Thearea for displaying the contents of a text message has a 12-half sizecharacter by 3-line size.

The input unit 16 is not provided with the keys 164 to 167 in FIG. 1,but has a mail key 176, F1 key 177, and F2 key 178 instead. The mail key176 is operated for checking reception of text message.

F1 key 177 and F2 key 177 are operated for performing operationscorresponding to texts displayed in the fifth line of the display unit14. FIG. 13 shows an example of F1 key 177. There is indication of“ERASE” at the place in the display unit 14 corresponding to F1 key 177.Operation of F1 Key 177 performs erasure of a text message displayed inthis screen. Further, there is indication of “NEXT” at the place in thedisplay unit 14 corresponding to 2 key 178. Operation of F2 key 178performs display of the next text message in this screen.

LED 17 lights up at the time of receiving a call, while flickers at thetime of receiving a text message.

The principal operation of the third embodiment will now be explained.FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing the operation of the control circuit 11at the time of receiving a text message. When the communication unit 1receives information of a text message from the base station (Y in S51),the control circuit 11 checks whether the text of the contents of thetext message is the same as a text message stored in RAM 13 (S52).

If they are the same, the control circuit 11 updates the informationconcerning the text message already stored by the below-mentionedupdating processing (S53). That is, it cuts back the memory space of RAM13 by not increasing the number of stored text messages. If they are notthe same, the control circuit 11 manipulates the contents of the textmessage by the below-mentioned compression process, and stores the textmessage which has undergone the compression process in RAM 13 (S55).

FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing the updating process of FIG. 14 indetail. In the updating process, the control circuit 11 updates the dateand time of reception (S61). If there is a difference in additionalinformation for distinguishing between ordinary and preferential of thetext message (Y in S62), the information in this RAM 13 (S63) isrewritten. FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing the compression process ofFIG. 14 in detail. The control circuit 11 handles characters in thehexadecimal ASCII character code. The space code is 20H, control codesare 00H to 1FH, and a line feed code (a code directing a carriage returnand a line feed) is 0DH.

Here, a character string (a received character string) inputted forcompression is represented as an array variable C1(i) with N1 characters(i being a variable of a positive integer), and an output characterstring resulting from the compression is represented as an arrayvariable C2(j) with N2 characters (j being a variable of a positiveinteger). These variables are stored in a register (not shown) withinthe control circuit 11.

In the compression process in FIG. 15, the control circuit 11 sets theinitial values of the variable i and the variable j to 1 (S71). Then, itlets the value (character code) of the array variable C2(j) equal thevalue (character code) of the array variable C1(i). That is, the valueof the array variable C1(i) is substituted into the value of the arrayvariable C2(j) (S72). Here, since i=1 and j=1, the first character ofthe output character string becomes the first character of the inputcharacter string.

In step S73, if the character just handled is the last character of theinput character string, that is, if i=N1, the process ends up withletting the number of characters N2 of the output character string equalthe value of variable j. The control circuit 11 lets the value of thevariable N2 equal the value of the variable j (S84), and ends theprocess.

In step S73, if i=N1 does not hold, the control circuit 11 incrementsthe variable i by 1 (S74). Then, it checks whether the code of the j-thcharacter (C2(j)) of the output character string is within 00H to 20H(S75). That is, it checks whether “the last character of the outputcharacter string under processing” is a control code or a space code.

In step S75, if C2(j) is not within 00H to 20H (N in S75), the controlcircuit 11 increments the variable j (S76) by 1, and proceeds to stepS72 to let C2(j) equal C1(i).

That is, if “the last character of the output current string” is not acontrol code or a space code, the current character (i) of the inputcharacter string is added as it is to the output character string(j<−j+1). Thus, if step S76 and step S72 are performed, “the characterunder processing which is a candidate for an addition to the outputstring” is not deleted but stored.

In step S75, if C2(j) is within 00H to 20H, and if C2(j) is not 0DH (Nin S77), the control circuit 11 sets C2(j) to code 20H (S78), andproceeds to step S79. That is, if. “the last character of the outputcharacter string under processing” is a control code or space code, andnot a line feed code, it sets “the last character of the outputcharacter string under processing” to a space (S78) and proceeds to stepS79. In step S77, if C2(j) is 0DH, that is, if “the last character ofthe output character string under processing” is a line feed code, itproceeds to step S79.

In step S79, the control circuit 11 checks whether the i-th charactercode (C1(i)) of the input character string is within 00H to 20H (S79).That is, it checks whether “the character under processing which is acandidate for an addition to the output character string” is a controlcode or a space code.

In step S79, if C1(i) is not within 00H to 20H (N in S79), the controlcircuit 11 increments the variable j by 1 (S76), and proceeds to StepS72 to let the array variable C2(j) equal the array variable C1(i). Thatis, if “the character under processing which is a candidate for anaddition to the output character string” is not a control code or aspace code, the current character (i) of the input character string isadded as it is to the output character string (j<−j+1). As describedabove, if either of “the last character of the output character stringunder processing” or “the character under processing which is acandidate for an addition to the output character string” is not acontrol code or a space code, the current character (i) of the inputcharacter string is added as it is to the output character string(j<j+1).

In step S79, when C1(i) is within 00H to 20H (Y in S79), the controlcircuit 11 proceeds to step S73 if C2(j) is 0DH (Y in S80). As describedabove, if “the last character of the output character string underprocessing” is a line feed code, and “the character under processingwhich is a candidate for an addition to the output character string” isa control code or a space code, “the character which is a candidate foran addition to the output character string” is not added (Steps S76 andS72 are not performed). Thus, control information or a space whichfollows a line feed is deleted.

In step S79, if C1(i) is within 00H to 20H (Y in S79) and C2(j) is not0DH (N in S80), the control circuit 11 regards C2(j) as being 20H from Yin step S75 and steps S77, S78, and then checks whether C1(i) is 0DH(S81). That is, if “the last character under processing of the outputcharacter string” is not a line feed code, then the control circuitconcludes that it is a space, and checks whether “the character which isa candidate to be added to the output character string” is a line feed(S81).

In step S81, if C1(i) is 0DH, the control circuit lets C2(j) equal 0DH(S82), and returns to step S73. That is, if “the last character of theoutput character string under processing” is a space, and “the characterwhich is a candidate for an addition to the output character string” isa line feed, “the last character of the output character string underprocessing” is changed to a line feed code, and “the character which isa candidate for an addition to the output character string” is notstored (Steps S76 and S72 are not performed).

In step S81, if C1(i) is not 0DH, the control circuit sets C2(j) to 20H(S83), and returns to S73. That is, if “the last character of the outputcharacter string under processing” is a space, and “the character whichis a candidate for an addition to the output character string” is not aline feed, “the last character of the output character string underprocessing” is changed to a space code, and “the character which is acandidate for an addition to the output character string” is not added(Steps S76 and S72 are not performed).

FIGS. 17A to 17D are views showing concrete examples of FIG. 16, whichwill now be explained.

In the third embodiment, control information except line feed is changedto a space by Y in step S75 (C2(j) is a control code), N in step S77(C2(j) is not a line feed), step S78 (change to a space), Y in step S75(control code), Y in step S79 (C1(i) is a control code), N in step S80(C2(j) is not a line feed), N in step S81 (C1(i) is not a line feed),and step S83 (change to a space) of FIG. 16. For example, as shown inFIG. 17A, a tab of control information is changed to a space.

Accordingly, it is possible to make notification of existence of controlinformation even if the terminal does not support the controlinformation. When the control information is a tab, the blanks are puttogether into one, whereby characters to be separated are distanced fromeach other, thereby reducing memory space, and effectively using thesmall display area. In the third embodiment, successive spaces are puttogether into one space by performing step S74 without performing stepsS76 and S72, after Y in step S75 (C2(j) is a control code), N in stepS77 (C2(j) is not a line feed), step S78 (change to a space), Y in stepS79 (C1(i) is a control code), N in step S80 (C2(j) is not a line feed),N in step S81 (C1(i) is not a line feed), and step S83 (change to aspace) of FIG. 16. For example, as shown in FIG. 17B, three successivespaces are put together into one space. Accordingly, memory space isreduced, and the small display area is effectively used.

Further, in the third embodiment, successive line feeds are put togetherinto one line feed by performing step S74 without performing steps S76and S72, after Y in step S77 and Y in step S81 of FIG. 16. For example,as shown in FIG. 17C, three successive line feeds are put together intoone line feed. Accordingly, memory space is reduced, and the smalldisplay area is effectively used.

Further, in the third embodiment, successive line feeds are put togetherinto one space by performing step S74 without performing steps S76 andS72, after Y in step S79 and Y in step S80, or after Y in step S75, Y instep S81 and step S82 of FIG. 16. For example, as shown in FIG. 17D, asuccession of a line feed and spaces is replaced by one line feed.Accordingly, memory space is reduced, and the small display area iseffectively used.

In the third embodiment, display of a text message is performed byreading a compressed text message from RAM as shown in FIG. 18. In acase where messages are displayed in list form such that one linecontaining 11 characters (where the place of the first character is usedas a cursor) is allocated to one message, when the contents of onemessage exceeds 11 characters, “->” is indicated in the place of theeleventh character. Further, in a case where one message is exclusivelydisplayed in detail, if it is a text message updated in theabove-mentioned step S53, “Duplicate” is indicated to make notificationof receiving the same message. In this detailed display, a word wrapprocessing (the processing for not spreading a word across lines) isperformed, and the space at the beginning of a line is deleted.

The third embodiment is applicable to not only the cellular phone asdescribed above, but also a stationary phone such as a tabletop phoneand a wall-mount phone, and further a receive-only apparatus for textinformation other than telephones.

As described above, the third embodiment can reduce memory space whenreceiving successive line feeds or spaces, and make effective use of thesmall display area. Further, it is possible to make notification of theexistence of received control information even if the terminal does notsupport the control information.

The Fourth Embodiment

The fourth embodiment of the invention will now be explained withreference to FIGS. 19 to 22.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing principal elements of the embodiment,and FIG. 20 is a front view of the communication terminal. In thesefigures, the reference numerals which are the same as those in FIG. 1represent the same elements. Explanation of the reference numerals 1 to11 and 15 is omitted.

The communication terminal of this embodiment is also a cellular phoneof the CDMA system which uses two or more carriers of the same frequencyin the same cell. The liquid crystal display unit 14 displays two ormore screens, as shown in FIG. 22. The input unit 16 is not providedwith the keys 164 to 167 of FIG. 1, but instead has a power key 179, andF1 key 177 and F2 key 178 as is the case with the embodiment of FIG. 12.The power key 179 is operated for ON/OFF of the power supply of theapparatus. F1 key 177 and F2 key 178 are operated for performingoperations corresponding to texts displayed in the display unit 14. FIG.20 shows an example of F1 Key 177. There is indication “MENU” in theplace in the display unit 14 corresponding to F1 Key 177. In thisdisplay screen, F1 Key 177 is operated to open a MENU screen.

LED 17 lights up to make notification of an incoming call. The principaloperation of this embodiment will now be explained. FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing operation of the control circuit 11, and FIG. 22 is a viewshowing changes of the screen. In FIG. 21 and FIG. 22, a dormant screenis a screen on which information that should be notified to a user butis not urgent is displayed by an interrupt. If the user performsacknowledgement operation when a dormant screen appears, it will notappear thereafter. There are screens in which a dormant screen isallowed to appear by an interrupt when the necessity of displaying thedormant screen has occurred, and screens which do not allow a dormantscreen to appear when the necessity of displaying the dormant screen hasoccurred. In this embodiment, a dormant screen is allowed to appear byan interrupt in an initial screen during standby and an initial screenduring communication, and is prohibited in various setting screens or atelephone directory screen. As examples of the dormant screen in thisembodiment, FIG. 22 shows the first dormant screen (g) and the seconddormant screen (i). The data of these screen displays and flags withrespect to the necessity of display are stored in RAM 13. The firstdormant screen (g) is for making notification that a text message hasnot been received normally for a certain reason (when driving through atunnel for instance), and the second dormant screen is for makingnotification of memory overflow of text messages.

In FIG. 21, the control circuit 11 makes a dormant screen appear by aninterrupt (S113) when there is a dormant screen to be displayed whichhas not been acknowledged (S111) in a state where power on operation hasnot been performed yet (S101), that is, when there is a dormant screenflagging the necessity of display, and the screen currently displayed issuch as to allow the dormant screen to appear (Y in S112). After theacknowledgement operation is performed in the dormant screen (N inS114), the control circuit cancels the flag of the dormant screen whichhas appeared (S115) determining that the dormant screen has beenacknowledged. Then, the original screen with no interrupt is displayed(S116).

Operation of Steps S111 to S116 will now be explained with reference toFIG. 22. If there occurs a reception error of a text message while aninitial standby screen (c) is displayed, the control circuit 11 makesthe first dormant screen (g) appear (Y in S111, Y in S112, and S113)since the initial screen on standby (c) is a screen allowing a dormantscreen to appear. Here, if the end key 163 or F1 Key 177 correspondingto indication of “OK” is operated, the control circuit causes display ofthe initial standby screen (c) which is to be displayed primarily (Y inS114, S115, S116) having recognized that the first dormant screen (g)has been acknowledged. If F1 key 177 corresponding to indication of“MENU” is operated while the initial standby screen (c) is displayed bythe control circuit 11, the first level setting screen (f) which is alower layer of the initial screen (c) (a screen which appears when aselection operation is performed once in the standby screen) isdisplayed. While the first level setting screen (f) is displayed, ifthere occurs a reception error of a text message, the first dormantscreen (g) is not displayed (Y in S111, N in S112, S116), since thefirst level setting screen (f) is a screen which prohibits the firstdormant screen from being displayed.

Further, if an end key 163 is operated to return to the initial standbyscreen (c) while the first level setting screen (f) is displayed by thecontrol circuit 11, the control circuit 11 causes the first dormantscreen (g) to appear by an interrupt (Y in S111, Y in S112, S113), sincethe initial standby screen (c) being displayed is a screen which allowsa dormant screen to appear. Here, if the end key 163 or F1 Key 177corresponding to indication of “OK” is operated, the control circuitcauses display of the initial standby screen (c) which is to bedisplayed primarily (Y in S114, S115, S116) having recognized that thefirst dormant screen (g) has been acknowledged. There is a second levelsetting screen as a lower layer of the first level setting screen (f) (ascreen which appears by performing once a selection operation at thefirst level setting screen), though it is not shown in the drawing. Thisscreen is a screen which prohibits a dormant screen from appearing.Accordingly, the control circuit 11 does not make a dormant screenappear at the second level setting screen, and makes the dormant screenappear when an operation for returning to the initial standby screen (c)via the first level setting screen (f) has been performed. An initialcommunication screen (e) is a screen allowing a dormant screen toappear, while the second dormant screen which is at a lower layer of theinitial communication screen (e) is a screen prohibiting a dormantscreen from appearing. When there arises the necessity of displaying thesecond dormant screen (i) due to memory overflow of text messages, thecontrol circuit 11 makes the second dormant screen (i) appear in theinitial communication screen (e) through an interrupt (Y in S111, Y inS112, S113) as in the case of the above described initial standby screen(c) and the first level setting screen (f), but does not make the seconddormant screen (i) appear in the first level telephone directory screen(h) (Y in S111, N in S112, S116). The method of displaying a dormantscreen such as in steps S111 to S116 makes a dormant screen remainhidden without being acknowledged even if there arises the necessity ofdisplaying a dormant screen in a screen which prohibits the dormantscreen from appearing unless an operation for moving to a screen inwhich a dormant screen is allowed to appear is performed. Thisembodiment prevents a dormant screen from remaining unacknowledged byturning off the power.

In FIG. 21, when the power key 179 is operated (Y in S101), the controlcircuit 11 regards it as the operation for turning on the power if thepower was off before the operation of the power key 179, thereby makingan on-transition screen appear for three seconds (S103), and thereafterdisplays the initial standby screen (S104) (See (a)->(b)->(c) of FIG.22). When the power key 179 is operated (Y in S101), if the power wasnot off before the operation of the power key 179, the control circuit11 regards it as the operation of turning off the power (N in S102). Ifthere is a dormant screen which needs to be displayed when the power key179 is operated (Y in S105), the control circuit 11 makes the dormantscreen appear through an interrupt (S106), and when the power key 179 isoperated again (Y in S107), makes an off-transition screen appear forthree seconds (S109) regarding the dormant screen as having beenacknowledged (S108), and thereafter blanks the screen (S110).

When a dormant screen is being displayed in step S106, if the end key163 or F1 key 177 corresponding to “OK” is operated instead of the powerkey 179, the same screen as the screen which appears when the end key163 is operated instead of the power key 179 in step S101 is displayed,as shown in (g)->(c) or (i)->(e) in FIG. 22 (not shown in FIG. 21).Thus, when the user takes a look at the dormant screen after turning offthe power, the user can make a selection between turning off the powerand continuing the operation depending on the contents of the dormantscreen.

If there is no dormant screen to be displayed when the power key 179 isoperated in step S105 (N in S105), an off-transition screen is displayedfor three seconds (S109), and thereafter the screen is blanked out(S110).

The operation of steps S101–S110 will now be explained with reference toFIG. 22. When the initial standby screen (c) is displayed, there is nodormant screen (a screen waiting to be displayed), since this screenallows any dormant screen to appear, and if there is a screen whichneeds to be displayed, it is displayed immediately. Accordingly, whenthe power key 179 is operated while the initial standby screen (c) isdisplayed, the control circuit 11 makes the off-transition screen (d)appear for three seconds, and thereafter makes an off screen (a) appearsince there is no dormant screen to be displayed (Y in S101, N in S102,N in S105, S109, S110). If there is no dormant screen to be displayedwhen the power key 179 is operated in the first level setting screen(f), the control circuit 11 makes the off-transition screen (d) appearfor three seconds, and thereafter displays the off screen (a) (Y inS101, N in S102, N in S105, S109, S110).

If there exists the first dormant screen (g) to be displayed when thepower key 179 is operated in the first level setting screen (f), thecontrol circuit 11 makes the first dormant screen (g) appear through aninterrupt (Y in S101, N in S102, Y in S105, S106). When the power key179 is operated again, it confirms acknowledgement of the dormantscreen, and cancels the flag of the first dormant screen (S108).

Further, it makes the off-transition screen (d) appear for threeseconds, and thereafter displays the off screen (a) (S109, S110). If theend key 163 or F1 key corresponding to “OK” is operated instead of thepower key 179 in the first level setting screen (f), the initial standbyscreen (c) is displayed (not shown in FIG. 21). Thus, the user can makea selection between turning off the power and continuing the operation.

As described above, in this embodiment, when a dormant screen remainshidden without being acknowledged, the dormant screen is displayed instep S106 when the power is turned off. Therefore, it is possible toprevent information to be notified from being missed. Although the wholearea of the display unit is used for displaying information to benotified in the above, it is possible to display information to benotified using a part of the screen allowing this information.

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, when informationto be notified is hiding without being acknowledged, it is possible toprevent the user from being unaware thereof.

The Fifth Embodiment

The fifth embodiment of this invention will now be explained withreference to FIGS. 23 to 28C.

FIG. 23 shows the circuit structure of the fifth embodiment. In thisfigure, the reference numerals which are the same as those in FIG. 1represent the same elements. Explanation of the reference numerals 1 to11 and 15 is omitted.

A liquid crystal display unit 14 displays telephone numbers and voicemessages. An input unit 16 is not provided with the keys 164 and 167 ofFIG. 1, but has a menu key 181 and a clear key 182 instead. A start key162 is operated for originating a call, beginning a communication, etc.An end key 163 is operated for ending a communication, etc. The menu key181 is operated for displaying setting screens (lookup or edit oftelephone directory, memo entry, volume of a received sound, etc.) Δ key165 is operated for calling the previous page. ∇ key 166 is operated forcalling the next page. The clear key 182 is operated for terminating anoperation to return to the original screen, or for erasing data.

The principal operation of the fifth embodiment will now be explained.FIG. 24 is a flow chart showing operation of the control circuit 11.FIG. 25 is a view showing kinds of selection screens of the first layerand the second layer. FIGS. 26A to 26C and FIGS. 27A to 27C are viewsshowing transition from the screen of the first layer to the screen ofthe second layer, and return from the screen of the second layer to thescreen of the first layer.

As shown in FIGS. 25A to 25D, the number of options in the selectionscreen of the first layer is seven, while, the maximum number of optionswhich can be displayed in the display unit 14 is four. Accordingly, theselection screen of the first layer includes the first page (1 a) fordisplaying options 1 to 4 shown in FIG. 25A, and the second page (1 b)for displaying options 5 to 7 shown in FIG. 25B. The control circuit 11makes the second page (1 b) appear, if ∇ key 166 is operated in a statewhere the first page (1 a) is being displayed. The first page (1 a)appears, if Δ key 165 is operated in a state where the second page (1 b)is being displayed.

When option 6 of the first layer is selected, there are seven options inthe screen of menu 6 associated with option 6 as shown in FIGS. 25C and25D. The screen of menu 6 also includes the first page (2 a) shown inFIG. 25C and the second page (2 b) shown in FIG. 25D. The controlcircuit 11 switches between these pages in response to the operation ofΔ key 165 and ∇ key 166.

The control circuit 11 performs selection in the first layer in responseto an operation of the ten-key pad 161 (Y in S122) for designatingoption numbers indicated to the left of the names of the options beingdisplayed regardless of the page being displayed (S121), and makes thescreen of the selected option appear (S123). For example, regardless ofwhether the first page (1 a) or the second page (1 b) is being displayedin the selection screen of the first layer, if the 6 key of the ten-keypad 161 is operated, the screen of menu 6 associated with option 6 isdisplayed.

If the clear key 182 is operated in the screen selected in step S123 (Yin S124), the control circuits 11 checks whether the selected option wasdisplayed in the screen (original screen) in the first layer beforemoving to the second layer (S125). If it was displayed, the originalscreen is displayed (S126), and if not, the screen of the first layerincluding the selected option is displayed (S127).

Assume that the 6 key of the ten-key pad 161 is operated to display theselection screen (2 a) of menu 6 shown in FIG. 26C in a state where thesecond page (1 b) of the first layer is displayed as shown in FIG. 26B.If the clear key 182 is operated in this state, the display returns tothe original screen (1 b) in which the option 6 was displayed as shownin FIG. 26B.

Meanwhile, assume that the 6 key of the ten-key pad 161 is operated todisplay the selection screen (2 a) of menu 6 shown in FIG. 27B in astate where the first page (1 b) of the first layer is displayed asshown in FIG. 27A. If the clear key 182 is operated in this state, thesecond page (1 b) of the first layer including option 6 as shown in FIG.27C is displayed, since option 6 was not displayed in the first page (1a) of the first layer.

Conventionally, when the clear key 182 is operated after moving to FIG.28B from FIG. 28A by selecting option 6, the display returns to thefirst page (1 a) of the first layer shown in FIG. 28C, and therefore,the selected option (option 6) is not displayed, which may pose aproblem that it is uncertain which option has been selected.

The Sixth Embodiment

The sixth embodiment will now be explained. In the fifth embodiment,options are displayed in two or more pages when they cannot be displayedin one screen. Instead, they are displayed by being scrolled in thesixth embodiment. FIGS. 29A to 29H are views showing kinds of selectionscreens of the first layer and the second layer. FIGS. 30A to 30D andFIGS. 31A to 31C are views showing transition from the screen of thefirst layer to the screen of the second layer, and return from thescreen of the second layer to the screen of the first layer.

In any of the selection screens (FIG. 29A to FIG. 29D) of the firstlayer and the selection screens (FIG. 29E to FIG. 29H) of the secondlayer in the sixth embodiment, one line downward scroll is made eachtime ∇ key 166 is operated, and one line upward scroll is made each timeΔ key 165 is operated.

For example, assume that the state is changed from FIG. 30A to (1 e) ofFIG. 30C by operating ∇ key 166 twice. In this state, option 6 isdisplayed in the bottommost line. Assume that, in this state, theselection screen (2 c) of menu 6 associated with option 6 shown in FIG.30D is displayed by operating the 6 key of the ten-key pad 161. In thisstate, when the clear key (182) is operated, it returns to the originalscreen (1 e) shown in FIG. 30C in which option 6 was displayed.

Assume that the selection screen (2 c) of menu 6 associated with option6 shown in FIG. 31B is displayed by operating the 6 key of the ten-keypad 161 in a state where the first page (1 c) which does not includeoption 6 as shown in FIG. 31A is displayed. If the clear key 182 isoperated in this state, the selection screen (1 e) including option 6shown in FIG. 31C is displayed.

The Seventh Embodiment

The seventh embodiment will now be explained. In the fifth embodiment,option 6 also brings another selection screen. In the seventhembodiment, the screen associated with option 6 is not a selectionscreen, but is a screen in which information stored in RAM 13 (atelephone number looked up by name, for example) is displayed. FIGS. 32Ato 32C and FIGS. 33A to 33C are counterparts of FIGS. 26A to 26C andFIGS. 27A to 27C of the fifth embodiment, where the screens associatedwith option 6 are changed from the selection screens to informationscreens.

Assume that the information displaying screen (2 g) shown in FIG. 32C isdisplayed by operating the 6 key of the ten-key pad 161 after ∇ key 166is operated to bring the state of FIG. 32B, in a state where the firstpage (1 a) is displayed in the selection screen of the first layer asshown in FIG. 32A. If the clear key 182 is operated in this sate, itreturns to the original screen (1 b) shown in FIG. 32B in which theoption 6 was displayed.

On the other hand, assume that the information displaying screen (2G)shown in FIG. 33B is displayed by operating the 6 key of the ten-key pad161 in a state where the first page (1 a) of the first layer isdisplayed as shown in FIG. 33A. If the clear key 182 is operated in thisstate, the second page (1 b) of the first layer including option 6 shownin FIG. 32C is displayed, since option 6 was not displayed in the firstpage (1 a) of the first layer.

The present invention is not limited to transition withinlayer-selecting screens as is the case with the seventh embodiment.

According to the fifth to seventh embodiments, the selection screenincluding the option which has been selected is displayed at the time ofreturning from the screen of the selected option to the original screenif the selected option was not displayed in the original screen.Therefore, the user can easily recognize the selected option.

The Eighth Embodiment

The eighth embodiment will now be explained. In the selection method ofthe eighth embodiment, the option which has been selected is marked by acursor in addition to the selection by the ten-key pad 161.

If the clear key 182 is operated after the selection screen (2 i) ofmenu 6 associated with option 6 is displayed by operating the 6 key ofthe ten-key pad 161 in the first page (1 h) in which the option 6 is notdisplayed as shown in FIGS. 34A to 34C, the selection screen (1 j)including the option 6 at which the cursor is located is displayed.

The Ninth Embodiment

The ninth embodiment will now be explained. FIGS. 35A to 35C are viewsshowing transition from the screen of the first layer to the screen ofthe second layer, and transition from the screen of the second layer tothe screen of the first layer. FIG. 35C is a counterpart of FIG. 27C ofthe fifth embodiment, where the text “OPTION 6” of 1 b of FIG. 27C isreversed. Thus, the selected option is marked.

In the eighth or ninth embodiment, the user can recognize which optionhas been selected with certainty, since the selected option is marked bya cursor or display in reverse.

The Tenth Embodiment

The tenth embodiment of this invention will now be explained withreference to FIGS. 36 to 42.

FIG. 36 is a block diagram showing a communication terminal of thisembodiment and an external device connected thereto. The communicationterminal of this embodiment is also a cellular phone. In this figure, adotted part indicated by a mark PT represents the cellular phone, andthe exterior thereof represents the device connected to the cellularphone PT. FIG. 37 is a schematic side view showing the cellular phonecarried in a motor vehicle.

In this Figure, the reference numerals which are the same as those inFIG. 1 represent the same elements. Explanation of the referencenumerals 1 to 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, and 16 is omitted. The telephone ofthis embodiment is a cellular phone of the CDMA system which uses two ormore carriers of the same frequency in the same cell.

The liquid crystal display unit 14 displays two or more screens, asshown in FIG. 22. An external speaker 22 and external microphone 23 of acar kit 21 are connected to a connecting unit 20 a through a cable 24(FIG. 37). This external speaker 22 and the external microphone 23 areused for hands-free communication.

A switching circuit 10 makes connection of a baseband unit 3 with threeamplification circuits 5, 7, 9 and connection with the connecting unit20 a under control of the control circuit 11 described later. Thesethree amplification circuits 5, 7, and 9 have their gains fixed as inthe case of the embodiment of FIG. 1, and therefore, it is not possibleto change the volume of a received sound or the sensitivity of themicrophone. A voice codec 3 b of the baseband unit 3 performs change ofthe volume of a received sound and the sensitivity of the microphoneunder control of the control circuit 11.

The liquid crystal display unit 14 indicates an exhaustion level of abattery or indicates external speaker mode (See FIGS. 40 to 42).

A voice synthesis circuit 25 converts texts specified by the controlcircuit 11 into voice signals.

A placement detecting means 26 has a magnetic detection unit 27, such asa lead switch and a Hall element, etc. As shown in FIG. 37, a placingunit 29 with a magnet 28 is fixed to the vehicle. When the cellularphone is placed in it, the magnetic detection unit 27 in the proximityof the magnet 28 detects magnetism, and the placement detecting means 26outputs a signal indicative of the cellular phone being placed to thecontrol circuit 11.

An internal power supply 30 comprises a rechargeable battery. Theconnecting unit 20 b is connected to an external power supply 32(battery in the vehicle) through the cable 24 (FIG. 37). A switchingcircuit 3.3 switches for power supply between the internal power supply30 and the external power supply 32. When an ignition switch is turnedON, the voltage of the external power supply 32 is applied to theconnecting unit 20 b, and the connecting unit 20 b notifies the controlcircuit 11 of this state. Then, the control circuit 11 causes switchingfrom the internal power supply 30 to the external power supply 32. Asdescribed above, a determination whether the external power source isconnected or not is made based on the voltage of the external powersupply, and switching between the power supplies is performed dependingon this determination. The principal operation of this embodiment willnow be explained. FIG. 38 is a flow chart showing the operation of thecontrol circuit 11. The control circuit 11 checks whether the externalpower supply 32 is connected through the connecting unit 20 b, that is,whether the cellular phone PT is connected to the cable 24 through theconnection unit 20 a, 20 b (S131). When connected to the cable 24, inaddition to the external power supply 32, the external speaker 22 andthe external microphone 23 are also connected to the cellular phone PT.

In step S131, if the external power supply 32 is not connected, thecontrol circuit 11 makes the internal power supply 30 feed electricpower to the cellular phone (S132). Then, a telephone mode wherereception is made by using the internal speaker (4 or 8) is established(S133). An ear-speaker 4 and a loud speaker 8 are provided as theinternal speaker. The loud speaker 8 is turned on and off by operating akey which is not shown. The control circuit 11 prohibits reception bythe external speaker 22 in the telephone mode. Further, the controlcircuit 11 indicates the exhaustion level of the rechargeable internalpower supply in the battery indication area of the display unit 14 asshown in FIG. 40 (S134). The exhaustion level is indicated in fourlevels as shown in FIG. 40.

In step S131, when the external power supply 32 is connected, thecontrol circuit 11 supplies the electric power of the external powersupply 32 to the cellular phone PT (S135). The internal power supply 30is charged by the supply from the external power supply 32. The controlcircuit 11 checks whether the cellular phone PT is placed in the placingunit 29 by the placement detecting means 26 (S136). If it is not placed,the telephone mode is established by proceeding to step S133. If it isplaced (Y in step 136), the car kit mode is entered, where reception ismade by using the external speaker (S137). Then, as shown in FIG. 41, anicon indicative of the car kit mode being established is displayed inthe battery indication area of the display unit 14 (S138). As shown inFIG. 42, it is possible to indicate that the car kit mode has beenestablished by displaying nothing in the battery indication area inconsideration of its hardware or simplification of its software.

As described above, while the car kit mode is established when thecellular phone is carried in a vehicle and is being charged, since thereis no necessity of indicating the exhaustion level of the internal powersource, the indication of the car kit mode being established is madeusing the battery indication area. Thus, the small display area of thecellular phone can be used effectively.

In the above embodiment, when the cellular phone PT is raised from theplacing unit 29, there arises a change from the car kit mode to thetelephone mode, and the exhaustion level of the internal power supply isindicated even when it is being charged. It is for notifying a user ofpossible poor contact of the internal power supply (rechargeable drybattery) due to a shock given to the cellular phone at the time ofraising the cellular phone or poor charging for other reasons.

In the above embodiment, although it is assumed that the batterycharging continues when the cellular phone is raised (when the telephonemode is established), the invention is applicable to cases where thebattery charging discontinues when the cellular phone is raised.Although the switching circuit 20 b switches between the external powersupply 32 and the internal power supply 30 in the above embodiment, itis possible to supply the power to the interior of the apparatus andrecharge the internal power supply 30 by connecting the external powersupply 32 having the same voltage as the internal power supply 30 inparallel without making a provision of the switching circuit.

According to the tenth embodiment, while the car kit mode is establishedwhen the cellular phone is carried in a vehicle and is recharged, theindication of the car kit mode being established is made by using thebattery indication area. Accordingly, the small display area of thecellular phone can be used effectively.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The communication terminal of the first embodiment of the presentinvention comprises:

-   a communication unit (1, 3) for receiving messages and type    information of said messages from a station;-   a display unit (14); and-   control means (11) which displays said messages received by said    communication unit in list form in said display unit, a cursor which    makes a selection from said messages displayed in list form having    different patterns, said control means associating said patterns of    said cursor with message types.

According to the above structure, even if a display screen is small, itis possible to display a cursor and message types at the same time,since the cursor displayed in a list also indicates message types.

The communication terminal of the second embodiment of the presentinvention comprises:

-   memory means (13) for storing messages received from a station;-   a display unit (14); and-   control means (11) which groups received messages into new messages    not yet reproduced by a user and old messages already reproduced,    causes display of the number of said new messages in a predetermined    area of said display unit when said new messages are stored in said    memory means, and causes display of the number of said old messages    in said predetermined area when said new messages are not stored in    said memory means.

According to the above structure, it is possible to display the numberof various types of messages in a small area, since one of the number ofold text messages and the number of new text messages is displayeddepending on the existence of the new text messages.

The communication terminal of the third embodiment of the presentinvention comprises:

-   a reception circuit (3) for receiving text information including    spaces;-   a display unit (14);-   a memory unit (13); and-   control means (11) which stores received text information in said    memory unit combining successive spaces into one space, if said    received text information has said successive spaces, and causes    display of said stored text information in said display unit.

The communication terminal of the fourth embodiment of the presentinvention comprises:

-   a reception circuit (3) for receiving text information including    line feeds;-   a display unit (14);-   a memory unit (13); and-   control means (11) which stores received text information in said    memory unit combining successive line feeds into one line feed, if    said received text information has said successive line feeds, and    causes display of said stored text information in said display unit.

The communication terminal of the fifth embodiment of the presentinvention comprises;

-   a reception circuit (3) for receiving text information including    spaces and line feeds;-   a display unit (14);-   a memory unit (13); and-   control means (11) which stores said received text information    combining a series of a space and a line feed into one line feed if    said received text information has said series of a space and a line    feed, and causes display of said stored text information in said    display unit.

The communication terminal of the sixth embodiment of the presentinvention comprises:

-   a reception circuit (3) for receiving text information including    control information such as a line feed;-   a display unit (14);-   a memory unit (13); and-   control means (11) which stores received text information in said    memory unit converting received control information except a line    feed return into a space, and displays said stored text information    in said display unit.

According to the above structure, it is possible to reduce memory spacewhen receiving successive line feeds or spaces, and effectively use thesmall display area. Further, when the communication terminal receivesany control information which the communication terminal does notsupport, it is possible to make a notification of the existence thereof.

The communication terminal of the seventh embodiment of the presentinvention comprises:

-   memory means (13) for storing information to be notified;-   a display unit (14) for displaying a predetermined screen or said    information to be notified;-   an input unit (16) where operation is performed; and-   control means (11) which causes display of said information to be    notified when operation is performed to turn off power supply in    said input unit during display of said predetermined screen.

The communication terminal of the eighth embodiment of the inventioncomprises:

-   memory means (13) for storing information to be notified;-   a display unit (14) for displaying an initial screen, a lower screen    as a lower layer of said initial screen, and said information to be    notified;-   an input unit (16) where operation is performed; and-   control means (11) which allows display of said information to be    notified in said initial screen and prohibits display of said    information to be notified in said lower screen, and displays said    information to be notified when operation is performed to turn off    power supply in said input unit during display of said lower screen.    Said initial screen may be the one during standby or the one during    communication.

According to the above structure, it is possible to prevent a user frombeing unaware of information to be notified and not yet acknowledged byturning off the power supply when it is hiding.

The communication terminal of the ninth embodiment of the presentinvention comprises:

-   a display unit (14) which displays a selection screen for selecting    at least one of a plurality of options; and-   display control means (11) which causes display of options in said    display unit by division or scroll to enable selecting an option not    currently displayed in said display unit from the options to be    selected, causes, when an option not currently displayed has been    selected, a display of a screen associated with said selected option    in said display unit, and performs a display so as to include said    selected option when displaying said selection screen next.

According to the above structure, it is possible for the user torecognize easily which option has been selected, because the selectionscreen is made to include the selected option when the selected optionwas not displayed in the previous screen at the time of returning to theprevious selection screen from the screen associated with the selectedoption.

The communication terminal of the tenth embodiment of the presentinvention comprises:

-   a display unit (14) which displays a selection screen for selecting    at least one of a plurality of options; and-   display control means (11) which causes display of options in said    display unit by division or scroll to enable selecting an option not    currently displayed in said display unit for the options to be    selected, causes, when an option not currently displayed has been    selected, display of a screen associated with said selected option    in said display unit, and causes display of information indicating    said selected option when displaying said selection screen next.

According to the above structure, it is possible for the user torecognize easily which menu has been selected, because informationindicating the option which has been selected is displayed at the timeof returning to the previous selection screen from the screen associatedwith the selected option.

The communication terminal of the eleventh embodiment of the presentinvention comprises;

-   a rechargeable battery (30) which can be recharged by an external    power supply;-   recharge detection means (11, S 131) for detecting whether said    rechargeable battery (30) is under recharge by said external power    supply (32);-   placement detection means (26) for detecting whether an apparatus is    placed in a placing unit;-   a display unit (14) which indicates exhaustion level of said    rechargeable battery;-   an external speaker connecting unit (20 a); and control means (11,    S134, S138) which recognizes that an external speaker mode has been    established and outputs received voices to said external speaker    connecting unit (20 a), prohibiting said exhaustion level of said    rechargeable battery from being indicated when said recharge    detection means detects that said rechargeable battery (30) is under    recharge and said placement detection means (29) detects that said    apparatus is placed in said placing unit, and outputs no received    voice to said external speaker connecting unit (20 a), allowing    exhaustion level of said rechargeable battery to be indicated except    in said external speaker mode.

According to the above structure, when a communication terminal such asa cellular phone is carried in a vehicle and is being recharged, thatstate is indicated utilizing the battery indication area. Accordingly,the small display area can be used effectively.

1. A cellular telephone, comprising: telecommunications structureconfigured to carry out cellular telecommunications; display structureconfigured to display upper and lower layers of options; a keypadconfigured to select options from among the upper layer of options andfrom the lower layer of options; display control structure configuredto: (i) cause display on said display structure of plural upper layeroptions, (ii) in response to activation of a single alphanumeric key ofsaid key pad, select an upper layer option not displayed on said displaystructure, and (iii) in response to said activation of said singlealphanumeric key, cause immediate display of plural lower layer optionscorresponding to the selected upper layer option.
 2. A cellulartelephone according to claim 1, wherein said display control structureis configured to display at least a portion of said lower layer optionsas a highlighted display.
 3. A cellular telephone according to claim 1,wherein said display control structure is configured to, in response toactivation of a clear key while said display unit is displaying saidplural lower layer options corresponding to the selected upper layeroption, cause display of plural upper layer options including theselected option.
 4. A cellular telephone according to claim 3, whereinsaid display control structure is configured to, in response to theactivation of the clear key while said display unit is displaying saidplural lower layer options corresponding to the selected upper layeroption, cause display of the selected upper layer option highlighted. 5.A cellular telephone according to claim 3, wherein said display controlstructure is configured to, in response to the activation of the clearkey while said display unit is displaying said plural lower layeroptions corresponding to the selected upper layer option, cause displayof the selected upper layer option reversed.
 6. A cellular telephoneaccording to claim 1, wherein said display control structure isconfigured to (i) cause display of four options of the upper layer ofoptions, (ii) cause display of a seventh option, of the upper layer ofoptions, which is not currently displayed on said display structure, inresponse to activation of the 7 key, and (iii) in response to saidactivation of said 7 key, cause display of plural lower layer options ofthe seventh upper layer option.
 7. A cellular telephone, comprising:telecommunications structure configured to carry out cellulartelecommunications; display structure configured to display pluraloptions; display control structure configured to (i) display on saiddisplay structure less than seven options of an upper layer of optionsthat includes at least seven options, (ii) in response to activation ofa hardware key, display on said display structure a plurality of lowerlayer options associated with the seventh upper layer option, and (iii)in response to activation of another hardware key, display on saiddisplay structure a plurality of upper layer options including theseventh option, wherein the displayed seventh upper layer option isdisplayed as a highlighted option.
 8. A cellular telephone according toclaim 7, wherein said hardware key comprises an alphanumeric key,wherein said another hardware key comprises a clear key.
 9. A cellulartelephone according to claim 7, wherein said display control structurecauses the plurality of lower layer options associated with the seventhupper layer option to be displayed immediately after activation of saidhardware key.
 10. A cellular telephone according to claim 7, whereinsaid telecommunications structure comprises an antenna, a speaker, amicrophone, a keypad, function keys, and a voice codec.
 11. A cellulartelephone according to claim 7, wherein said display structure comprisesan LCD display.
 12. A cellular telephone according to claim 7, whereinsaid display control structure causes immediate display of the pluralityof lower layer options associated with the seventh upper layer optionwhen the hardware key is activated while said display structure iscurrently displaying a screen of upper layer options that does notinclude the seventh upper layer option.
 13. A cellular telephoneaccording to claim 7, wherein said display control structure causes thehighlighted display of the seventh option when said another hardware keyis activated while said display structure displays the plurality oflower layer options associated with the seventh upper layer option. 14.A cellular telephone, comprising: telecommunications structureconfigured to carry out cellular telecommunications; display structureconfigured to display plural options; display control structureconfigured to (i) display on said display structure less than apredetermined number of upper layer options, where said upper layer ofoptions includes at least the predetermined number of options, (ii) inresponse to selection by a hardware key, display on said displaystructure a plurality of lower layer options associated with theselected upper layer option, and (iii) in response to activation ofanother hardware key, display on said display structure a plurality ofupper layer options including the selected option, wherein the displayedselected upper layer option is displayed as a highlighted option.
 15. Acellular telephone according to claim 14, wherein said hardware keycomprises an alphanumeric key, wherein said another hardware keycomprises a clear key.
 16. A cellular telephone according to claim 14,wherein said display control structure causes the plurality of lowerlayer options associated with the selected upper layer option to bedisplayed immediately after activation of said hardware key.
 17. Acellular telephone according to claim 14, wherein saidtelecommunications structure comprises an antenna, a speaker, amicrophone, a keypad, function keys, and a voice codec.
 18. A cellulartelephone according to claim 14, wherein said display structurecomprises an LCD display.
 19. A cellular telephone according to claim14, wherein said display control structure causes immediate display ofthe plurality of lower layer options associated with the seventh upperlayer option when the hardware key is activated while said displaystructure is currently displaying a screen of upper layer options thatdoes not include the seventh upper layer option.
 20. A cellulartelephone according to claim 14, wherein said display control structurecauses the highlighted display of the seventh option when said anotherhardware key is activated while said display structure displays theplurality of lower layer options associated with the seventh upper layeroption.